Two Life Sentences in Teen Shooting Case

KSAL Staff - July 8, 2016 12:16 pm

Maceo Palacio (left) and Stephen Gentry (right)

Two people convicted in connection with the shooting death of a Salina teen in May of 2015 were sentenced Friday in Saline County District Court. Judge Rene Young sentenced 23-year-old Maceo Palacio and 20-year-old Stephen Gentry for their involvement in the shooting death of 17-year-old Allie Saum.

For the most serious crime, First Degree Murder, Judge Rene Young sentenced Palacio, the man who fired the shot that killed the Salina South High School Student, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years. Palacio was also sentenced for other crimes, including:

234 months for Attempted First Degree Murder

59 months for Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle

6 months for Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery

The sentences will be served concurrently. Palacio was also sentenced to $9,431.66 in restitution, some of which will be divided by some of the co-defendants.

Judge Young sentenced Gentry to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for his First Degree Murder conviction. Gentry was the instigator in a plot to seek revenge, after being punched in a previous incident. He gathered a group of people together, ultimately misdentified a truck, and instructed Palacio to fire shots at it. Gentry was also sentenced for other crimes including:

253 months for Attempted First Degree Murder

59 months for Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle

6 months for Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery

The sentences for three of the four charges will run consecutively. The Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle charge will run concurrently. Gentry was also sentenced to $9,851.27 in restitution, some of which will be divided by some of the co-defendants.

An uncle of Allie Saum’s spoke during both sentencings. He said that it was not a case of mistake identity, but rather a “random heinous crime.” He said that Allie was sentenced to to death, and that it was a shame that Palacio and Gentry could not receive the same sentence.

An aunt also spoke. She spoke about forgiveness, and referenced bible scripture. Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Palacio and Gentry both also spoke.

Palacio took full responsibility for the shooting, expressed remorse, and apologized to the family several times. He said that it is the first thing he thinks about every morning when he wakes up, and that at night he is afraid to go to sleep because of the things he will see in his dreams. Palacio said that he has “made things right with God, and I know that he has forgiven me”. Palacio added “I do not see much forgiveness here, but I hope one day I will be forgiven.”

Gentry used his time to speak to sing, and rap, a song he wrote while in jail. He sang about remorse and regret, and spoke to Allie in the song. He said that he knows that she is in heaven. Gentry said that one day he would like to apologize to Allie, but will never get the chance because “when I die I’m going to a different place.”

The status of the other three defendants in the case is still pending.

20-year-old Daniel Sims testified against Palacio and Gentry in exchange for a reduction of charges. He is scheduled in August to plead to charges that include involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.

18-year-old Andrew Woodring has already plead guilty to a felony 1st degree murder charge, but since has indicated that he wants to change that plea.

20-year-old Jerome Forbes has yet to face trial.

Allie Saum was shot and killed on May 6th, 2015. Shots were fired at a truck as it drove eastbound in the 500 block of Russell.

The truck was mis-identified as being connected to an earlier altercation. Saum was a passenger in the truck, and was hit by one of five shots that were fired.